Nurse Practitioners Natalie Montanez, FNP-C, CACP, and Joanna Larson, FNP-C, along with Genetic Counselor Rida Haider, MS, CGC, recently presented at the Thrombosis and Hemostasis Summit of North America (THSNA) national meeting in Portland, Oregon. The team presented two posters,...
Read More Hematology has strong presence at THSNA 2026
Terri Major-Kincade, MD, MPH, gave Grand Rounds for the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) addressing HB 37 Everly’s Law. Hope Northrup, MD, was interviewed by WebMD about new treatment options for patients with phenylketonuria, or PKU. Mahboobeh Mahdavinia,...
Read More In the media, April 2026
Faculty and trainees from the Division of Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine at McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston had a strong national presence at the 2026 Annual Meeting of the Southern Society for Pediatric Research (SSPR), held in New Orleans, LA, earning...
Read More Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine shines at SSPR 2026
The annual meeting of the American College of Medical Genetics (ACMG) was held March 10-14 in Baltimore, MD. The McGovern Medical School Division of Medical Genetics had six attendees: two Combined Pediatrics/Medical Genetics Residents — Roshni Chugh, MD, and Suad...
Read More Medical Genetics represents at ACMG 2026
Presentations Presenting at PAS? Make sure you’re on our list! McGovern Medical School will have excellent representation from the Department of Pediatrics at the Pediatric Academic Societies (PAS) meeting this year. View our list of PAS Meeting posters and presenters...
Read More Publications and presentations, April 2026
Welcome Guliz Erdem, MD Professor and Division Chief, Pediatric Infectious Diseases View Dr. Erdem’s faculty profile Elva M. Almazan, MSN, APRN, FNP-BC, FNP-C Nurse Practitioner, General Academic Pediatrics Congratulations, STAR Awardees! 30 Years Marisela Trujillo, MSW Director of Management Operations,...
Read More Team updates, April 2026
For happenings beyond this month, visit the Events page in SharePoint and extend the “To” date. April is about awareness! Child Abuse Prevention and Autism Awareness Month: April 1-30 To commemorate Child Abuse Prevention, the Child Safety and Integrated Care...
Read More Upcoming events, April 2026
[As featured by UTHealth Houston Public Affairs, March 04, 2026] While the UTHealth Houston Fetal Center is the main focus of this article, groundbreaking interventions like these are successful because of collaborative efforts from our neonatologists who are directly involved...
Read More A collaborative accomplishment: First baby to receive novel spina bifida surgery at UTHealth Houston thriving 6 months after treatment
[As featured by UTHealth Houston Public Affairs, February 23, 2026] Kelly Jensen went in for her 20-week ultrasound, nervous but excited to see her baby boy’s progress. When the ultrasound tech suddenly left to get the doctor, Kelly knew something...
Read More Pediatric cardiology success: How a tiny patient and a determined care team delayed a heart transplant
[As featured by UTHealth Houston Public Affairs, March 09, 2026] Andrea Ramirez Varela, MD, PhD, MPH, assistant professor in the Department of Epidemiology at UTHealth Houston School of Public Health. (Photo by UTHealth Houston) The prevalence of physical activity among...
Read More Global physical activity remains low despite two decades of guideline updates, UTHealth Houston researchers find
[As featured by UTHealth Houston Public Affairs, February 27, 2026] Brandon Morris’ family always centered around food. The Houston native and his relatives would often gather around the table for crawfish boils and fried fish. As he reached adulthood, Brandon,...
Read More Medical Genetics team helps Houston man achieve bucket list dream after game-changing rare disease
[As featured in The Insider, written by the Office of Development, February 25, 2026] When Pediatric Gastroenterolgy, Hepatology, and Nutrition Division Founder and Professor Emeritus Wallace Gleason, MD, enrolled in college, he was not sure medicine would be his life’s calling....
Read More Dr. Gleason’s legacy gift creates opportunities for future physicians
[As featured in The Insider, February 25, 2026] The Cooley University Life Center transformed during an ordinary evening Feb. 21 into a celebration of resilience, joy, and inclusion during a one-of-a-kind Sneaker Ball Prom for children and young adults living...
Read More Dancing without limits: CHOSeN clinic hosts sneaker ball
[As featured by the McGovern Medical School Office of Communications, March 9, 2026] The McGovern Medical School Alumni Association and the Office of Alumni Engagement have named Paul Hillman, MD, PhD, Residency ’19, as the recipient of the 2025 Early Career...
Read More Hillman honored with Early Career Achievement Award
[Slightly modified from The Insider, March 06, 2026] Leadership grounded in service, compassion, and integrity takes center stage each year at UTHealth Houston through the President’s Awards for Leadership, which honor individuals who consistently set the standard for ethical and...
Read More Celebrating Department of Pediatrics recipients of President’s Awards for Leadership: Antionnette Bowens-Whitaker, LMSW, and Mary Aitken, MD, MPH
We are delighted to announce that Paul A. Trainor, PhD, will join the Department of Pediatrics at McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston as the next Vice Chair of Research and Pediatric Research Center Division Chief in 2026. Dr. Trainor...
Read More Department of Pediatrics welcomes Paul A. Trainor, PhD, as new research leader
Thank-A-Resident Week 2026 February 23-27 “Happy Thank a Resident Day! Today gives us a chance to loudly celebrate all the quiet, steady ways you show up every single day for your patients, peers and yourself. I am so proud to...
Read More Resident life highlights
Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine shines at SSPR 2026 Pediatric Cardiology and Allergy and Immunology named among UT Physicians Clinics of the Quarter for Q1, FY26. Yuying Liu, PhD, MEd, received the American Association of Immunologists (AAI) Laboratory Travel Grant to attend the Immunology 2026 Conference in Boston. Julianna Quinn,...
Read More Pediatrics Honors, April 2026
The Department of Pediatrics was thrilled to welcome our new class of pediatric residents during the Match Day festivities on Friday, March 20. Pediatric Residency Program Director Emma Omoruyi, MD, MPH, and Program Coordinators Kimberly Cooper, C-TAGME, and Gabriella Nicholson,...
Read More Match Day 2026: Welcome pediatric trainees!
Welcome JoAnn Nguyen, Administrative Coordinator, Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine Congratulations Amalia Guardiola, MD, named Director of Undergraduate Medical Education Tina O. Findley, MD, named Assistant Division Chief of Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine Marvin Thomas, Jr., MBA, MHA, promoted to Senior Administrative Manager of the...
Read More Team updates, March 2026
Though not offered by the Department of Pediatrics, these funding opportunities may be applicable and appealing to advance the work in our Department. If you are aware of additional opportunities we should share, please send to Department of Pediatrics Communications....
Read More ICYMI: Funding Opportunities
In February 2026, the division known as Community and General Pediatrics officially became General Academic Pediatrics. This change reflects the division’s strategic evolution and better aligns their identity with their core mission in education, scholarly productivity, and academic leadership. Historically,...
Read More Division name change: Community and General Pediatrics is now General Academic Pediatrics
Presentations Presenting at PAS? Make sure you’re on our list! McGovern Medical School will have excellent representation from the Department of Pediatrics at the Pediatric Academic Societies (PAS) meeting this year. View our list of PAS Meeting posters and presenters...
Read More Publications and presentations, March 2026
Wang Lab graduate research students Shannon Erhardt and Julianna Quinn were featured with medical students Paris Nix and Morgan Marsh in a video illustrating how research supports clinical care, posted on UTHealth Houston social media. Mary Aitken, MD, MPH, FAAP; Gabriel...
Read More In the media, March 2026
Faculty Achievements Congratulations to these five outstanding clinicians honored as part of the Grateful Patient Program. Ebony Beaudoin, MD, and Stephanie Tower, LCSW, have been selected to serve on the Texas Health and Human Services Policy Council for Children and...
Read More Pediatrics Honors, March 2026
The Department of Pediatrics celebrates these clinicians who were recently honored by patients as part of the Grateful Patient Program through the UTHealth Houston Development Office. As part of this program, recurring patients were contacted and offered an opportunity...
Read More Grateful Patient Program honorees
CATCH Grant Community Event On Sunday, February 8, a group of pediatric and med/peds residents and faculty hosted a Valentine-themed event for Project Delivery of Chronic Care (DOCC) families at the West Gray Recreation Center. This fun-for-all-ages gathering is one...
Read More Resident life highlights
For happenings beyond this month, visit the Events page in SharePoint and extend the “To” date. Baker Institute Webinar: New CDC Immunization Guidelines and Their Impact on the Pediatric Workforce Thursday, March 5, 2026 4 to 5 p.m. Learn more...
Read More Upcoming events, March 2026
Champions are identified through the Learning Environment Surveys, which are sent to students as an invitation to recognize faculty whose everyday actions have meaningfully shaped their clinical education. This interview is part of a series that spotlights each of the...
Read More Interview with Amalia Guardiola, MD, Champion of Clinical Learning Environment
Deborah Brown, MD; Gloria Heresi, MD; and Rita Swinford, MD, have been named Memorial Hermann Hospital Distinguished Physicians for 2025. Distinguished Physicians are physicians who have spent the majority of their professional careers at Memorial Hermann-TMC/Children’s Memorial Hermann Hospital and made significant...
Read More Three pediatric faculty named 2025 Memorial Hermann Distinguished Physicians
Mary Aitken, MD, was featured on UTHealth Houston social media in honor of National Pediatrics Day. Autumn Atkinson, MD, co-led a conversation for HCPLive entitled “Differentiating Pediatric Atopic Dermatitis, Psoriasis, and Seborrheic Dermatitis.” Michael Chang, MD, appeared on the Houston Public Radio...
Read More In the media, February 2026
Welcome Pulmonary and Sleep Medicine Division Community and General Pediatrics Congratulations Amanda McCarthy, MD, achieved board certification for Hospice and Palliative Medicine.
Read More Team updates, February 2026
Presentations Michael Yafi, MD, and Khubaib Ahmed, MD, (PGY-4) have each had an abstract accepted for presentation at the 19th International Conference on Advanced Technologies and Treatments for Diabetes (ATTD). Tricia Zucker, PhD, will be the keynote speaker at the Aldine ISD Literacy Matters virtual...
Read More Publications and presentations, February 2026
The annual Pediatric Meet and Greet was held January 14 in the Fifth Floor Gallery. This event is hosted by medical student and residency program leaders to give rising fourth-year medical students an opportunity to interact with current fourth-year medical...
Read More Annual Pediatric Meet and Greet a success
LBJ Hospital NICU Earns Gold Beacon Award for Excellence Harris Health Lyndon B. Johnson Hospital’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and High-Risk Nursery, led by Medical Director Sophia Tsakiri, MD, CMQ, earned the Gold Beacon Award for Excellence, a national...
Read More Pediatrics Honors, February 2026
For happenings beyond this month, visit the Events page in SharePoint and extend the “To” date. Bone Disease Program Seminar Series Under Pressure: How Cells Sense and Respond to Mechanical Load During Regeneration Friday, February 6 1:30 to 2:30 p.m....
Read More Upcoming events, February 2026
How collaborative care has allowed this 7-year-old to contribute to finding a cure for rare genetic condition Asher Times was not expected to make it through the night when he was born in The Woodlands, Texas, seven years ago. His...
Read More A lifesaving story and new clinical research unit at CTPND
For families of children with a rare genetic condition, receiving a diagnosis and compassionate care feels like a life jacket after drowning in uncertainty. Providers in a specialized UTHealth Houston pediatric program deliver this comprehensive, research-backed approach, which has recently...
Read More UTHealth Houston earns national recognition for rare NBIA disorders care
(Graphic by UTHealth Houston) Seven UTHealth Houston researchers received awards totaling nearly $10 million in funding from The Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT), a state legislative initiative designed to advance cancer research and prevention in Texas....
Read More CPRIT awards nearly $10M to UTHealth Houston cancer researchers
Welcome! Martine Moliere, LMSW, new case manager for the Houston Hospital-Based Violence Intervention Program (HVIP). New Certifications Senior Residency Coordinator Kimberly Cooper has earned her Certified Training Administrator of Graduate Medical Education (C-TAGME) credential. Congratulations to these faculty and staff...
Read More Team updates, January 2026
From podcasts to livestream interviews to online magazines and more, our Department is frequently asked to share expertise with a wide variety of media outlets. To learn more about these opportunities, email Department of Pediatrics Communications. Vershanna Morris, MD, (pictured...
Read More In the media, January 2026
The Department of Pediatrics at McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston is delighted to announce Guliz Erdem, MD, has been appointed Division Chief of Pediatric Infectious Diseases. Dr. Erdem joins us as a nationally recognized leader in pediatric infectious diseases...
Read More Welcome Guliz Erdem, MD, division chief of pediatric infectious diseases
Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine Staff Physician Amy Tsai, MD, was awarded the 2025 Physician of the Year at Memorial Hermann Memorial City. Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine Nurse Practitioner Robyn Garner, NNP, (pictured above, center), was recognized as a Houston Rockets Community MVP...
Read More Pediatrics Honors, January 2026
For happenings beyond this month, visit the Events page in SharePoint and extend the “To” date. Pediatric Research Center Data Exchange A quarterly interactive forum featuring basic science and clinical research from across the Department of Pediatrics This quarter’s presenter...
Read More Upcoming events, January 2026
RSV facts you need to know: What to expect during its winter peak The UT Physicians Clinical Marketing Team produces feature articles that address recurring health issues affecting the pediatric population and frequently highlight the expertise of McGovern faculty. If...
Read More UT Physicians feature with Dr. Mahadevan
Presentations Allergy & Immunology Division highlights from the 2025 American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (ACAAI) Annual Scientific Meeting: 8 accepted abstracts — 6 poster presentations and 2 platform presentations 1 platform presentation received national media coverage: “Evaluating the Impact of...
Read More Presentations and publications, January 2026
Beginning Dec. 1, the pediatric clinics are collecting food donations to support patients and families experiencing food insecurity. Food bags will be provided each Monday morning at the UT Physicians Pediatric Primary Care Clinic, 6410 Fannin Street, Suite 500. Donate...
Read More Food Drive for Pediatric Clinics
Ramesha Papanna, MD, MPH, a professor at McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston and a maternal-fetal surgeon at UTHealth Houston Fetal Center and Children’s Memorial Hermann Hospital. (Photo by UTHealth Houston) A five-year, $2.8 million grant was awarded to researchers...
Read More UTHealth Houston Fetoscopic Spina Bifida Trial Receives NIH Funding to Evaluate Long-Term Efficacy of Treatment
Welcome Roel Perez, MSSW Case Manager for Houston Hospital-Based Violence Intervention Program (HVIP) Community & General Pediatrics Congratulations Ava Henson, MS, CGC, and Nicole Talaba, MS, CGC, are now board-certified genetic counselors. Paul Hillman, MD, PhD, is now board certified...
Read More Team Updates, Dec 2025
Whether you’re looking to build your CV with a leadership opportunity or secure funding to initiate or sustain research, there are many opportunities at McGovern and beyond. Opportunities UT-REAL Pilot Award Program The UT-REAL-Health-AI (UT-REAL) Pilot Award Program supports projects...
Read More Funding & Leadership Opportunities
Dear Colleagues, We are pleased to share an exciting milestone in our Women’s Services expansion: our new Mother Baby Unit on 9 West Jones is officially open. This newly renovated space — previously occupied by Transplant Acute Care, which has...
Read More Children’s Memorial Hermann Hospital Celebrates the Opening of New Mother Baby Unit
Presentations Lakshmi Srivaths, MD, co-presented on a webinar for International Society for Thrombosis and Haemostasis: “Optimizing Care in Women and Girls with Hemophilia” on Nov. 3 American Society of Pediatric Nephrology (ASPN) at ASN, Nov. 5-9 (pictured above): Joshua Samuels, MD,...
Read More Presentations & Publications as of Dec 2025
Many thanks to these Department of Pediatrics members for sharing their insight with the public through media interaction. If you are willing to be contacted with media requests pertaining to your area of expertise, please let communications know. Mahboobeh Mahdavinia,...
Read More In the Media, Dec 2025
Sandy McKay, MD, FAAP, (above, 5th from right) was selected as the Outstanding Child Advocate for Houston, Gulf Coast, and East Texas at the Children at Risk Accolades luncheon. Sarah Abercrombie, MHA/MBA, LSSBB, senior practice manager at UT Physicians, (pictured...
Read More DoP Honors, Dec 2025
Houston Mayor John Whitmire issued a proclamation on Nov. 18, 2025, in recognition of National Injury Prevention Day and applauded the dedication of injury prevention specialists to reducing preventable injuries. The Injury Prevention Team from Children’s Memorial Hermann Hospital was...
Read More City of Houston Recognizes National Injury Prevention Day with Proclamation
This UT Physicians article features Pediatric Infectious Diseases Associate Professor Michael L. Chang, MD, and is an inspiring example of collaboration across disciplines. If you have a patient-care story you’d like to share, please email Department of Pediatrics Communications. ...
Read More Pediatric Infectious Diseases Collaboration Delivers Life-Saving Expertise
From Kristina Tebo, MD Assistant Vice President, Office of Global Health Initiatives Assistant Dean of Global Health, McGovern Medical School Assistant Professor, Pediatric Hospital Medicine Division The Pediatric Global Health Program recently completed a month-long global health trip to...
Read More Global Health Update
NIH funds new program to advance kidney, urologic, and blood research Researchers at UTHealth Houston, in collaboration with scientists across the Texas Medical Center, are leading a collaborative effort to strengthen the pipeline of future researchers in kidney, urologic, and...
Read More PRC Involved in TMC Research Collaborations
UT Physicians creates useful content that helps patients and their families understand their health care, like the article below featuring Professor of Community and General Pediatrics Amalia Guardiola, MD. If there is a topic about which you would like to...
Read More You Can Help UT Physicians Educate Patients
For happenings beyond this month, visit the Events page in SharePoint and extend the “To” date. Bone Disease Program Seminar Series Friday, Nov. 7 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. MSB 2.103 Speaker: Jesús Delgado-Calle, PhD Associate Professor, Department of Physiology and Cell...
Read More Upcoming Events, Nov 2025
Children’s Memorial Hermann Hospital, in partnership with McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston, is among the top five Best Children’s Hospitals in Texas, according to the latest U.S. News & World Report Best Children’s Hospitals rankings. The primary teaching hospital for...
Read More UTHealth Houston Teaching Hospital Ranks Fifth in Texas
J. Marc Rhoads, MD, and Yuying Liu, PhD, (pictured above with award) received an award from BioGaia in recognition of rigorous science and outstanding results. Maria del Mar Romero López, MD, MS, PhD, has been elected to membership in the Society...
Read More DoP Honors, Nov 2025
Amalia Guardiola, MD, talked to Univision Houston Channel 45 about fall allergies. Mary Kay Koenig, MD, was quoted in a Science article about the first approved drug for mitochondrial diseases. Dr. Koenig was also a featured guest on the Raise...
Read More In the Media, Nov 2025
New Division Chiefs to AMSPDC Gabriel Anzueto, MD, division chief of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, and Mahboobeh Mahdavinia, MD, PhD, division chief of Allergy and Immunology, joined the 4th Cohort of the Division Director Academy through the Association of Medical...
Read More Team Updates, Nov 2025
Presentations Upcoming American Society of Pediatric Nephrology (ASPN) at ASN, Nov. 5-9: Joshua Samuels, MD, will moderate a session and speak at a slideless symposium. Rita Swinford, MD, and Joyce Samuel, MD, will give platform presentations. UTHealth Houston is co-hosting...
Read More Presentations & Publications as of Nov 2025
The 2025 Texas Pediatric Society (TPS) Annual Meeting was held Oct. 16 to 19 at the Kalahari Resort and Convention Center in Round Rock, TX. The largest gathering of pediatricians in Texas, the event was an opportunity to connect with...
Read More 2025 Texas Pediatric Society Annual Meeting Recap
We are very pleased to announce the recipients of this year’s Faculty Educator Awards in the Department of Pediatrics. These awards recognize exceptional contributions to medical education by our faculty, honoring excellence in teaching, curriculum development, mentorship, and overall commitment...
Read More 2025 Faculty Educator Awards
Memorial Hermann Health System is proud to announce that Guy B. Giesecke, DHA, is appointed Senior Vice President and Chief Executive Officer of Children’s Memorial Hermann Hospital. With nearly two decades in pediatric leadership, Dr. Giesecke has significant experience leading...
Read More Memorial Hermann Health System Appoints Guy Giesecke, Senior Vice President and CEO, Children’s Memorial Hermann Hospital
A bold new chapter in pediatric care is unfolding in Katy as UT Physicians expands its pediatric footprint beyond the Texas Medical Center. Designed specifically for children and families, UT Physicians Pediatric Multispecialty – Katy integrates 14 medical and surgical subspecialties...
Read More New Pediatric Clinic Brings Subspecialty Care Closer to Katy Families
Terri Major-Kincade, MD, MPH, was interviewed by CBS News about the Perinatal Palliative Care Bill called Everly’s Law, which took effect on Sept. 1. Megan Kindred, MSN, APRN, was interviewed by Everyday Health about the benefits of breastfeeding.
Read More In the Media, Oct 2025
Welcome! The Department of Pediatrics is proud to add these outstanding clinicians to our team: Promotions Congratulations to these faculty from various divisions who have been promoted as of September 1. Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine New Role Associate Professor Elizabeth Hillman, MD,...
Read More Team Updates, Oct 2025
Presentations Haitham Al-Wahab, MD, FAAP, presented at the Annual Extracorporeal Life Support (ECLS) Symposium held September 23-24 at Memorial Hermann Hospital (pictured above). Hunaid Gurji, DO, PhD, MS, presented “Johnny Five is Alive: Use of Chatbots to Facilitate Medical Education”...
Read More Presentations & Publications as of Oct 2025
Pediatric Workforce Initiative hosts program mixer On Wednesday, Sept. 24, pediatric programs from across Houston came together to host a mixer for medical students interested in pediatrics. Program leaders from McGovern Medical School, Baylor College of Medicine, University of Houston,...
Read More ICYMI: September Recap
Submit Your Proposal on a Topic of Your Choice The Academic Pediatric Association (APA) is currently accepting proposals for workshops at their Southern Regional Meeting to be held February 26-28, 2026, in New Orleans. The APA Region 7/8 Workshops will...
Read More Lead a Workshop at APA Southern Regional Meeting
Miller Lab Updates Pediatric Research Center Associate Professor Rachel Miller, PhD, leads a team of award-winning researchers to explore congenital anomalies of the kidney and urinary tract. The Miller Lab has received some collaborative awards to advance their discoveries in partnership...
Read More New PRC Collaborative Research Endeavors
Events are ramping back up! For happenings beyond this month, visit the Events page in SharePoint and extend the “To” date. PRC Data Exchange Seminar Series An opportunity for both basic science and clinical researchers to share their work in...
Read More Upcoming Events, Oct 2025
The Children’s Learning Institute at UTHealth Houston has been honored as a 2025 Amazon Web Services Champion by the Center for Digital Government and the Center for Digital Education, recognizing the institute’s pioneering use of cloud technology to improve education...
Read More Children’s Learning Institute named Amazon Web Services Champion
High Risk Clinic earns Clinic of the Quarter for Patient Experience Congratulations to the High Risk Clinic, part of the Pulmonary and Sleep Medicine Division, for scoring in the 97th percentile for patient experience. 2025 Education Innovation Awards Employee of...
Read More DoP Honors, Oct 2025
Welcome! The Department of Pediatrics proudly welcomes these new team members: Pediatric Hospital Medicine Across the Department Community & General Pediatrics Wellness Event On Saturday, August 2, the Community and General Pediatrics Division came together for a much-needed...
Read More Team Updates, Sept 2025
Sheela Lahoti, MD Dean of Education LaTanya Love, MD, announced the appointment of Sheela Lahoti, MD, as vice dean for Admissions and Student Affairs at McGovern Medical School, effective Aug. 1, 2025, after successfully serving in the interim capacity. “I am confident Dr. Lahoti...
Read More Lahoti named vice dean, Admissions and Student Affairs
Michael Chang, MD, (pictured) joined Houston Public Media’s show, Hello Houston, to talk about back-to-school vaccines. Sandra McKay, MD, joined KHOU-TV Channel 11 to discuss what appointments you should schedule for your child before they go back to school. She...
Read More In the Media, Sept 2025
Three years ago, while sitting with friends at lunch, 12-year-old Angel Nguyen stood up and collapsed without warning. Her only symptom was a headache. A large aneurysm in her brain had burst, which caused internal bleeding and a dangerous buildup...
Read More Helping hands: A 12-year-old stroke survivor’s journey of resilience
Outstanding Example Community and General Pediatrics Nurse Practitioner Cilymol Abraham, APRN, DNP, CPNP, recently served as preceptor for Benjamin Flint, a family nurse practitioner student who completed a 90-hour clinical rotation at UT Physicians Multispecialty – Greens. This student shared...
Read More Above and Beyond
Pediatric Workforce Initiative Through her work with Council on Medical Student Education in Pediatrics (COMSEP), Associate Professor of Pediatric Hospital Medicine Veronica Gonzalez, MD, gathered substantial information on the pediatric workforce shortage and has presented her findings to several different...
Read More Department FYIs
Vineeth John, MD, director of the Learning Environment, and Abbey Bachmann, MEd, PhD, assistant professor in the Office of Professionalism, announced 27 faculty members recognized as the 2025 Champions of the Clinical Learning Environment at McGovern Medical School. The Office of Professionalism honors the...
Read More 2025 Champions of the Clinical Learning Environment
Thu Tran, DO, was highlighted by the American Thoracic Society as a respiratory structure and function early-career professional. Lakshmi Srivaths, MD, received the John P. McGovern “Champion in Women’s Health & Wellness Award” at the Women’s Fund for Health Education and Resiliency spring...
Read More DoP Honors, Sept 2025
Department of Pediatrics team members were involved in some outstanding activities this summer. Here’s a brief recap in pictures: Camps throughout the Department Each summer, divisions from across the Department of Pediatrics play a key role in organizing and executing...
Read More 2025 Summer Recap
Presentations Bibek Raj Bista, MBBS, MPH, (pictured above) presented at the World Sanskrit Conference in Kathmandu, Nepal: Palliative and End-of-Life Care Differences between Current Clinical Practices and Sanātana dharmālambī society of Nepal and India.” While there, Dr. Bista also gave...
Read More Presentations & Publications as of Sept 2025
Welcome, Dr. Bauser-Heaton! The Children’s Heart Institute at Children’s Memorial Hermann and McGovern Medical School Department of Pediatrics have named Holly Bauser-Heaton, MD, PhD, the new chief, Pediatric Cardiology and executive co-director of CHI. “Dr. Bauser-Heaton is a remarkably gifted physician and...
Read More Pediatrics’ Division of Cardiology Leader Named
Congratulations to these junior faculty and research professionals who have received pilot grants to initiate projects.
Read More Research Pilot Grant Awards
Presentations PGY-3 pediatric residents Alexandria Laws, MD, and Andrea Pinto, MD, (pictured) presented their research at the 2025 National Medical Association Annual Convention and Scientific Assembly held in Chicago, IL, July 19 to 23. The Hematology Division had several...
Read More Presentations & Publications as of August 2025
2025 International TSC Research Meeting: The picture of collaboration The 2025 International TSC (Tuberous Sclerosis Complex) Research Conference, held June 26-28 in Bethesda, MD, was well attended by the UTHealth Houston TSC Center of Excellence (TSC CoE) care team. “We...
Read More United for TSC
The International Society of Thrombosis and Hemostasis (ISTH) held their 2025 congress in Washington, D.C., June 20 to 24, 2025, and the Division of Hematology had many opportunities to lead. Professor Lakshmi Srivaths, MD, (pictured above at left) gave a...
Read More Hematology Division leads at 2025 ISTH Congress
Melissa Kwan, MD, joined FOX 26 News on June 30 to discuss tips for staying safe around bodies of water ahead of the July 4 holiday weekend. Sandra McKay, MD, talked to FOX 26 News on July 18 about the importance...
Read More In the Media, August 2025
LBJ NICU Team achieved Level III (Subspecialty Care) Maternal Facility in Perinatal Care Region-Q designation with zero deficiencies. Children’s Learning Institute was featured in UTHealth Houston Information Technology’s 2025 IT Review, a comprehensive summary of the IT department’s recent achievements. Rachel Miller, PhD,...
Read More DoP Honors, August 2025
Welcome! The Department of Pediatrics proudly welcomes these new team members: Cardiology Community and General Pediatrics Critical Care Medicine Endocrinology Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine Pediatric Hospital Medicine Professional Development Congratulations to these recent graduates of the Clinical Safety and Effectiveness Program. Delilah...
Read More Team Updates, August 2025
Autumn Atkinson, MD, talked to People Magazine about a patient she treated who was determined to walk at his high school graduation ceremony. Michael Yafi, MD, joined FOX 26 News to talk about Type 1 diabetes. CultureMap featured a benefit performance, Doctors in Recital, by UTHealth...
Read More In the Media, July 2025
Presentations Ferial Shihadeh, MD, (above) pediatric endocrinology fellow, presented her poster at the Pediatric Endocrine Society Meeting in May: Neuropsychiatric and Neurodevelopmental Concerns in Turner Syndrome: Insights from the UTHealth Houston/Turner Syndrome Society of the United States Research Registry. Ricardo Mosquera,...
Read More Presentations & Publications as of July 2025
We had a great response to our recent Media Skills Training! The UTHealth Houston Media Relations team shared helpful information about how to handle any media request along with best practices for virtually any interaction with media. If you didn’t...
Read More Media Skills Training Resources
The Department of Pediatrics is so very proud of the accomplishments of these dedicated physicians and grateful to the faculty teachers and mentors. Best wishes to all of you as you enter the next chapter! Child Neurology Residency Graduation Friday,...
Read More Congratulations, Graduates!
Guns are the leading cause of death among children and adolescents in the United States. As firearm injuries continue to claim lives, it is vital to explore effective strategies to reduce these tragic incidents. On June 6, 2025, “Preventing Firearm...
Read More DoP represents at 2025 Firearm Injury Prevention Summit
Lamar Consolidated ISD Back-to-School Block Party Saturday, August 2 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Lamar Consolidated High School 4606 Mustang Avenue Rosenberg, TX 77471 LCISD hosts this annual community event where the UTHealth Houston injury-prevention team will have a booth...
Read More Community Engagement Opportunities
Welcome! Ava J. Henson, MS Instructor, Medical Genetics Chief Residents aka the BFFs Postgraduate Year 1 Residents See the interns individually.
Read More Team Updates, July 2025
Pediatrics postdocs win top awards at 2025 Postdoctoral Symposium The Office of Postdoctoral Affairs presented the UTHealth Houston Postdoctoral Research Symposium on June 6 in the MSB Fifth Floor Gallery. More than 120 attendees heard from keynote speaker Carmen W....
Read More DoP Honors, July 2025
In 2020, when she was 4 years old, Khloe Gloria stopped walking. At the suggestion of their local San Angelo physician, her concerned parents took her to see neurologists in Dallas. Khloe’s mom, Natalie Salazar, already had a sinking...
Read More Family with rare form of Huntington’s finds care at UTHealth Houston
For the third year in a row, participants in the 2025 UTHealth Houston Half Marathon and 10K have the opportunity to donate to Reach Out and Read Texas. “This is a wonderful opportunity for runners to support children’s literacy,” said Jocelyn McConnell, MEd, director...
Read More 2025 UTHealth Houston Half Marathon to support children’s literacy
Four members of the UTHealth Houston community received the university’s most distinguished awards for their exceptional work, history of long-standing excellence, and dedication during the 2025 President’s Scholar Awards and Recognition of Excellence Award ceremony on May 22, and members...
Read More Pediatrics leaders help celebrate President’s Scholar Award recipients
McGovern Medical School was well-represented at the 2025 Innovations in Health Science Education 21st Annual Conference for The University of Texas System Kenneth I. Shine, MD, Academy of Health Science Education, with 40 attendees and a multitude of grant and award...
Read More McGovern shines at Health Science Education Conference
Salute to nurses Seven UT Physicians nurses were honored in the Houston Chronicle’s 2025 Salute to Nurses, including Jessica Melendez, MSN, RN, nurse manager at UT Physicians Pediatric Center — Bay Area. All featured nurses were also celebrated at a...
Read More DoP honors, June 2025
Presentations PRC Associate Professor Jun Wang, PhD, chaired the “Cardiac Development, Disease, and Regeneration” session at the American Association for Anatomy’s annual meeting, Anatomy Connected 2025 held March 28–31 in Portland, OR. Session co-leader Vincent Christoffels, Amsterdam University Medical Center,...
Read More Presentations & publications as of June 2025
Pediatric Research Center (PRC)/ Center for Craniofacial Research (CCR)/Department of Pediatrics (DOP) Scientific Retreat Each year, Department of Pediatrics Vice Chair of Research Jacqueline Hecht, PhD, and the retreat planning committee spearhead planning for the PRC/CCR/DOP Retreat. The Retreat features...
Read More Research retreats recap
Avichal Aggarwal, MD, spoke to HealthCentral about Still’s murmur in children. Michael Chang, MD, was listed as a source for an article in The Strategist about the best masks to wear for protection against viruses. Amalia Guardiola, MD, appeared on Univision...
Read More In the media, June 2025
The approach for team building and planning this year is a series of retreats for each program/focus area. Education program leaders had a very successful gathering last month featuring these main topics and key takeaways. The next all-faculty retreat is...
Read More 2025 education retreat highlights
3rd Annual Resident Research Symposium Wednesday, May 21 Hermann Conference Center Congratulations, award winners! 14th Annual Fellows Research Symposium Thursday, May 22 Hermann Conference Center Congratulations, award winners! 2nd Year Abstract Submission Winners Reeja Raj, DO – MD Anderson Pediatric...
Read More 2025 trainee research symposia
With smiles and laughter, six patients, their families, and more than a dozen providers gathered for the ribbon cutting of the Multidisciplinary Center for CACNA1A-Related Disorders. “This is a deeply moving milestone,” said Dennis Lal, PhD, the founding director of the...
Read More New center provides hope for CACNA1A patients
First and second quarters 2025 have seen a multitude of conferences in a variety of locations. Everyone’s presentations and posters are noteworthy, so this post represents a small glimpse into the great work the Department is carrying across the country...
Read More Conference Season, Spring 2025
For happenings beyond May, visit the Events page in SharePoint and extend the “To” date. CLI’s STEM-tastic Celebration Join the Children’s Learning Institute for a day of exploration and discovery on Saturday, May 10, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at...
Read More Upcoming Events, May 2025
Hope Northrup, MD, and Amir Khan, MD, were 2 of 6 faculty inducted into the Alpha Omega Alpha (AOA) Honor Society at a ceremony on March 17. Thao L. Nguyen, DO, FAAP, and Haitham Al-Wahab, MD, FAAP, were both nominated...
Read More DoP Honors, May 2025
Scientific Retreat The 2025 Pediatric Research Center (PRC)/Center for Craniofacial Research (CCR) Scientific Retreat was April 22 at the Cooley Center. 91 attendees enjoyed informative keynotes and a variety of presentations. Congratulations to this year’s presentation awardees (pictured above, right):...
Read More Spring Event Recap
Congratulations to all who have presented research posters recently! Those snapshots are all featured in the Conference Season post. Presentations Joan Hernandez, MPH, was featured in a leadership panel for the UTHealth Houston Learning Lab curriculum. Mahboobeh Mahdavinia, MD, PhD:...
Read More Presentations & Publications as of May 2025
Michelle Ruda, MD, Associate Professor and Director, Child Safety and Integrated Care Division, talked to Parents about what to teach children to avoid dangers. The story was picked up by Yahoo! Life. Kimberly Ellison, PhD, Assistant Professor, Children’s Learning Institute,...
Read More In the Media, May 2025
In Memoriam The Department of Pediatrics laments the loss of Paul H. Dahm, MD, MS, who passed away April 14, 2025, after a battle with cancer. DoP Spotlight The McGovern Medical School Office of Communications recently featured...
Read More Department of Pediatrics Team Updates: May 2025
Rylee Noble often watched other kids do cartwheels on the playground, wondering why she couldn’t do the same. She didn’t know that the joint stiffness and muscle aches she felt weren’t normal. “When you don’t know anything else, you don’t...
Read More A Noble Journey: Grateful Patient Gives Back to Help Others with Rare Diseases
Clinic of the Quarter Congratulations to the UT Physicians Pediatric Center Cardiology — Texas Medical Center, named Clinic of the Quarter! This outstanding team provides comprehensive cardiac care, from fetal interventions to specialized treatment for babies, children, and adolescents. Their...
Read More DoP Honors, April 2025
Presentations Michael Yafi, MD, had three posters accepted to the 18th International Conference on Advanced Technologies & Treatments for Diabetes (ATTD 2025) held in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, March 19 to 22. Barbara Kieu, MHA, and GME office team will be...
Read More Publications & Presentations as of April 2025
Did you know there is a team of Board-certified lactation consultants within the Department of Pediatrics? True story! These caring professionals offer personalized, private consultations to help every mom meet her breastfeeding goals. Don’t be confused by the name —...
Read More Get to Know the Lactation Foundation
Michael Chang, MD, and Maria Segura, MD, joined a Children at Risk panel discussion on Facebook to talk about the measles outbreak and preventive measures parents can take to protect their children. Their remarks were shared by 13 radio stations...
Read More In the Media, April 2025
For happenings beyond April, visit the Events page in SharePoint and extend the “To” date. CPTI Networks & Collaboratives Pillar Webinar Series Join the American Academy of Pediatrics Community Pediatrics Training Initiative (CPTI) for this panel discussion on building community...
Read More Upcoming Events, April 2025
The following is an invitation from Zachary S. Appenzeller, PsyD, Director of the UTHealth Houston Center for Eating Disorders: Dear Colleagues, I want to cordially invite you all to the 2025 UTHealth Houston Center for Eating Disorders Update Conference: “Bridging...
Read More UTHealth Houston Center for Eating Disorders to Launch at Bridging the Gap Conference
President’s Leadership Awards Congratulations April Crawford, PhD, Professor and Meg and Dick Weekley Distinguished Chair in Childhood Reading and Learning, and Brenda Moncivaiz, MBA, Fellowship Coordinator II, who received the President’s Award for Leadership. The annual President’s Awards for Leadership...
Read More Department of Pediatrics Honors, March 2025
The McGovern Medical School Women Faculty Forum hosted its seventh annual International Day of Women and Girls in Science Symposium, on Feb. 11. The symposium’s keynote speakers were Polaris Dawn Astronauts Sarah Gillis and Anna Menon, as well as, McGovern...
Read More Celebrating Women and Girls in Science
[Article written by Rice University and also published by the McGovern Medical School Office of Communications] Andrea Ramirez Varela, MD, PhD, MPH and Stuart Fraser, MD Two McGovern Medical School research projects received seed grants in 2024 through the Provost’s...
Read More Two McGovern Research Projects Receive Rice-TMC Seed Grants
Match Day The McGovern Medical School Class of 2025 will assemble in Webber Plaza to to collect and simultaneously open envelopes at 11 a.m. CST. At that time, they, along with thousands of other medical students across the U.S., will...
Read More Upcoming Events, March 2025
The Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine Division made an excellent showing at the 2025 Southern Society for Pediatric Research Annual Meeting, held in New Orleans, Louisiana, February 13 to 15: 4 posters, 13 oral presentations and 7 awards. Dr. Findley led her group...
Read More DoP Shines at SSPR
The McGovern Medical School Office of Communications releases an annual report called McGovern Medicine, highlighting key news from the year. The Department of Pediatrics is so pleased to have the clinical research of Sandy McKay, MD, FAAP, Associate Professor and...
Read More McGovern Medicine 2024 featured Dr. McKay’s Research
Jaclyn Ruggiero, MD, Assistant Professor, Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine, was a featured guest on the Supporting Child Caregivers podcast discussing early relational health in the NICU. Lisa de Ybarrondo, MD, Associate Professor, Community & General Pediatrics, interviewed by NEEF Connect about protecting yourself...
Read More In the Media, March 2025
Presentations Jaclyn E. Ruggiero, MD, Assistant Professor, Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine, has been invited to speak at the Master Series at Oxford — an internationally recognized trauma and mental-health conference organized by luminaries in the field. This invitation follows her podcast conversation...
Read More Publications & Presentations as of March 2025
In Memoriam The Department of Pediatrics laments the loss of Children’s Learning Institute staff member Melissa “Missy” Wells who passed away unexpectedly on February 4, 2025. Welcome Congratulations Christiana Sawiros was recently promoted to Senior Administrative Coordinator...
Read More Department of Pediatrics Team Updates: March 2025
This has been an action-packed season for the Department of Pediatrics. In no particular order, here is a visual reflection of some key events: Thank-a-Resident Day (Week) Thanks to the generosity of donors from across the Department, pediatric residents were...
Read More ICYMI: February 2025 Events
[as featured in the February issue of Inside University News] As a fourth grader, Michelle Barratt, MD, MPH, dreamt of becoming a teacher, but those dreams were nearly dashed when her best friend’s mom told her she was not patient...
Read More The Many Faces of UTHealth Houston: Michelle Barratt, MD, MPH
Astronauts Anna Menon and Sarah Gillis (Photo courtesy of SpaceX) The McGovern Medical School Women Faculty Forum will host the seventh annual International Day of Women and Girls in Science Symposium from 3:30-6:30 p.m., February 11, in the Memorial Hermann Conference...
Read More Astronauts to Headline Women and Girls in Science Symposium
Pediatric Grand Rounds are a series of lectures that present the symptoms, diagnosis, and management of a particular disease in the pediatric population. A different Division leads each month to expose attendees to a wide range of topics and expertise....
Read More Hybrid Pediatric Grand Rounds
Mary Aitken, MD, MPH, FAAP, Professor and Chair, was quoted in a Forbes article about how to select the best pillow for a toddler. Maria Caldas-Vasquez, MD, Staff Physician, Pulmonary Medicine, was featured in a Univision documentary on the shortage...
Read More Department of Pediatrics in the Media, January 2025
Matthew T. Harting, MD, MS; Claudia Pedroza, PhD; and Jose-Miguel Yamal, PhD. UTHealth Houston researchers will serve as the principal investigators of the data coordinating center on an $11.4 million, groundbreaking clinical trial studying the efficacy of inhaled nitric oxide (iNO) in...
Read More UTHealth Houston to lead data coordinating on $11.4M multi-site clinical trial
Best Wishes, Dr. Al-Akash The Pediatric Nephrology & Hypertension Team bid farewell to Division Director Samhar Al-Akash, MD, at a lunch on Monday, January 20. Dr. Al-Akash has accepted a position as a pediatric nephrologist in Dubai where he will...
Read More Department of Pediatrics Team Updates, January 2025
Congratulations, Pediatrics Residents The General Pediatrics Residency Program is proud to celebrate a 100% first-time pass rate on the American Board of Pediatrics (ABP) certification exam! Congratulations, Dr. Findley Tina O. Findley, MD, Associate Professor, Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine, has been awarded...
Read More Department of Pediatrics Honors, January 2025
Welcome to Heart Health Month! Activities Begin Tuesday, February 4 UTHealth Houston is gearing up for heart-focused initiatives and community-building activities throughout February to celebrate American Heart Month, a national initiative to raise awareness about heart health. The university is...
Read More Upcoming Events, February 2025
The Department of Pediatrics congratulates these physician scientists and leaders who have shared their recent presentations and publications. If you have a publication you’d like to uplift, please contact Assistant Project Manager Clarissa Webb who handles communications. Presentations Terri Major-Kincade,...
Read More Department of Pediatrics Publications and Presentations, January 2025
Pediatric Research Seminar Series The Pediatric Research Center (PRC) is eager to host these informative sessions to hear firsthand from some of the leading experts in our region. PRC Research Seminars are held the third Friday of each month, 12...
Read More Upcoming Events, January 2025
Welcome to the Department of Pediatrics Amber Jarrell, MD Community & General Staff Physician, Bay Area Pediatric Center (BAPA) Fellowship Matches Congratulations to these pediatrics residents who matched with fellowships across the country. We wish you continued...
Read More Department of Pediatrics team updates, December 2024
From podcasts to livestream interviews to online magazines and more, the Department of Pediatrics is frequently asked to share expertise with a wide variety of media outlets. Here are some highlights from the past month or so: Zoabe Hafeez, MD,...
Read More Department of Pediatrics in the media, December 2024
Presentation Tina Findley, MD, was a presenter at the Women’s Health Collaborative Workshop hosted by the Office of Research Affairs on December 10. Her presentation was Sex Matters: Metabolism in Neonates with Congenital Heart Disease. Publications Hope...
Read More Department of Pediatrics publications and presentations, December 2024
Dr. Caretti receives CNCDP-K12 Grant Viola Caretti, MD, PhD, Child & Adolescent Neurology Assistant Professor, has been awarded the Child Neurologist Career Development Program-K12 (CNCDP-K12 grant) in partnership with the National Institutes of Health. The CNCDP-K12 provides funding and programmatic...
Read More Department of Pediatrics honors, December 2024
On Tuesday, January 7, the Department of Pediatrics will host a special hybrid Grand Rounds presentation featuring Rex Marco, MD, Orthopedic Surgery Professor and Spine Fellowship Program Director at UTHealth Houston McGovern Medical School. Dr. Marco found a new purpose in...
Read More Special In-Person Grand Rounds
Ariella Konwar proudly holds her championship plaque, a milestone moment that occurred three years after she was diagnosed with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). (Photo from Ronit Konwar) Ariella Konwar is a bubbly 9-year-old with a passion for sports. This outgoing,...
Read More 9-year-old Golfer Wins Big Despite JIA Diagnosis
Kevin Morano, PhD, senior vice president of Academic and Faculty Affairs and senior associate dean for Faculty Affairs, announced Kristi Tebo, MD, as the inaugural assistant dean of Global Health for McGovern Medical School, effective December 1, 2024. A graduate of Baylor...
Read More Tebo Named Assistant Dean of Global Health
The Department of Pediatrics Team is frequently called upon to share insight and expertise with the community through various media platforms. Here are the media highlights from last month: Michelle Ruda, MD (Director, Child Safety & Integrated Care Division), spoke...
Read More Department of Pediatrics in the Media, November 2024
UT Physicians’ new allergy and immunology clinic provides a beacon of hope for Houston’s sneezing and wheezing masses. This progressive practice promises to do more than treat symptoms. It aims to educate Houstonians and develop effective prevention strategies for them....
Read More UT Physicians brings clear vision to allergy care with new clinic
Have you been to SharePoint lately? It’s getting more informative by the day! The latest additions are a searchable, sortable database of all current Clinical Trials as well as everything you need to know to develop a widely successful Quality...
Read More Clinical Trials and Quality Improvement now in SharePoint
On Thursday, October 24, the Gulf States Hemophilia and Thrombophilia Center’s (GSHTC) clinical team successfully administered a hemophilia gene-therapy drug to the first patient in Texas outside of a clinical trial setting. This new therapy for patients represents the Center’s...
Read More Groundbreaking Gene Therapy at Gulf States
Publications Over the past month, members of the Department of Pediatrics have published important research in respected journals and been accepted to present at renowned conferences. Congratulations to: Ricardo Mosquera, MD, MPH (Professor and Director, Pulmonary and Sleep Division), et...
Read More Department of Pediatrics publications and presentations, November 2024
Andrea Ramirez Varela, MD, PhD, MPH, contributed to a project to study child and maternal nutrition in Colombia. First person is an occasional series, providing firsthand accounts of outreach programs involving the McGovern Medical School community. This issue features Andrea Ramirez...
Read More First Person: Study on child and maternal nutrition in Colombia
The Department of Pediatrics is thrilled to have so many honors and awards to share this month! Please join us in congratulating these outstanding achievements: Sandra McKay, MD, FAAP, Associate Professor and Director of Community & General Pediatric Division, has...
Read More Department of Pediatrics honors, November 2024
At its recent gala, An Evening to Ignite the Future, the PCD Foundation of North America recognized UTHealth Houston for its international efforts to support children with primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD). The gala was held at the Chicago History Museum...
Read More Department of Pediatrics national recognitions
UT Physicians Outpatient Clinic News Jennifer Bell has been promoted to Senior Practice Manager of the TMC clinic locations. “Jennifer joined the department of Pediatrics in 2020 as a Manager Patient Business Services II. Since joining our team, she has...
Read More Department of Pediatrics team updates, November 2024
UTHealth Houston Fun Fest December 4 2 to 4pm Cooley Center, 7440 Cambridge Pediatric Research Seminar Series The Pediatric Research Center (PRC) is eager to host these informative sessions to hear firsthand from some of the leading experts in our...
Read More Upcoming Events
Each month, the Women Faculty Forum presents its Women in Medicine and Sciences Feature, highlighting the women faculty at McGovern Medical School who are leaders in medicine, research, and education. This month’s feature is Susan Wootton, MD, professor in the Department of...
Read More Women in Medicine & Sciences Feature: Susan Wootton, MD
Faculty and fellows from the Department of Pediatrics attended the Women and Girls with Blood Disorders (WGBD) Learning Access Network (LAN) Workshop, and the Foundation for Women and Girls with Blood Disorders Conference in September in Long Beach, CA. Lakshmi...
Read More Leadership at Bleeding Disorders Workshop and Conference
Andrea Ramirez-Varela, MD, PhD The UTHealth Houston School of Public Health awarded Andrea Ramirez-Varela, MD, PhD, assistant professor in the Department of Pediatrics and the Department of Epidemiology at the UTHealth Houston School of Public Health, with PRIME funding for her study Supporting Active Lifestyles...
Read More Ramirez-Varela earns PRIME award to support active lifestyles for Latino children
As a continual knowledge of the work it takes to foster a positive and professional learning atmosphere, the Directors of Learning Environment at McGovern Medical School announced 28 faculty members who have earned the title of 2024 Champions of the...
Read More Three Department faculty named Champions of the Clinical Learning Environment
On September 12, the McGovern Medical School chapter of the Latino Medical Student Association (LMSA) and the Latino American Medical Association of Houston gathered for a social event welcoming new MS1 students. The Latino American Medical Association of Houston has...
Read More LMSA happenings
We celebrate the important research published in respected journals and presented in conferences over the past month. Congratulations to: Misti Ellsworth, MD (Associate Professor, Infectious Diseases), et al.: “Infection Prevention in the Intensive Care Setting” book published by Springer Chiamaka...
Read More Department of Pediatrics publications and presentations, October 2024
The Department of Pediatrics is excited to welcome these new team members: Sushma Hebbar, MD, Community & General Pediatrics Staff Physician Sara McMahan, PT, PCS, Child & Adolescent Neurology Physical Therapist Melissa Magray, NNP, Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine Sadiah Rehman, RD,...
Read More Department of Pediatrics team updates, October 2024
The Department of Pediatrics Team is frequently called upon to share insight and expertise with the community through various media platforms. Here are the media highlights from last month: Michelle Barratt, MD, MPH, was interviewed by PaperCity Magazine about how...
Read More Department of Pediatrics in the media, October 2024
Many members of the Department of Pediatrics have received notable honors this month. Please congratulate these colleagues for exceptional accomplishments! From the Lab of Jun Wang, PhD: Genetics and Epigenetics Graduate Student Shannon Erhardt received an NIH F31 Ruth L....
Read More Department of Pediatrics honors, October 2024
Photos courtesy of Bibek Raj Bista, MBBS, MPH On his recent trip to his home country of Nepal, Bibek Raj Bista, MBBS, MPH, assistant professor of pediatric critical care, had an opportunity to meet with the faculty of Patan Academy...
Read More Donation with a personal touch
The only Injury Control Research Center in Texas has been established by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at UTHealth Houston in partnership with Baylor College of Medicine. Jeff Temple, PhD “I’m beyond thrilled to bring an Injury Control...
Read More Collaboration establishes CDC Injury Control Research Center
Congratulations to Ashley Gibson, MD, Assistant Professor, Child Safety and Integrated Care Division, for receiving an AIM-AHEAD Grant, issued by the Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning (AI/ML) Consortium to Advance Health Equity and Researcher Diversity (AIM-AHEAD). The goal of the AIM-AHEAD program...
Read More New funding for new projects
Pediatric Research Seminar Series The Pediatric Research Center (PRC) is eager to host these informative sessions to hear firsthand from some of the leading experts in our region. PRC Research Seminars are held the third Friday of each month, 12...
Read More Upcoming events: November 2024
The Texas Pediatric Society held their annual meeting on Saturday, October 26, and the Department of Pediatrics was extremely well represented. Melissa Kwan, MD, was selected as the Early Career Physician of the Year in recognition of her exceptional leadership...
Read More Department of Pediatrics shines at Texas Pediatric Society Meeting
We celebrate the important research contributions published in respected journals and presented in conferences over the past month. Congratulations to: Sheela Gavvala, DO, FAAP (Associate Professor, Pediatric Hospital Medicine), et al.: Effect of COVID-19 on “Access to Language Services Among...
Read More Department of Pediatrics presentations and publications, September 2024
Mahboobeh Mahdavinia, MD, (middle) is the director the newly established Allergy and Immunology Division in the Department of Internal Medicine (Photo by Dwight Andrews/Office of Communications) The Department of Internal Medicine has announced that Mahboobeh (Maha) Mahdavinia, MD, PhD, professor and John P....
Read More Mahdavinia leads new Allergy and Immunology Division
Sandra McKay, MD, FAAP, Community and General Pediatrics Division Chief and Associate Professor, received a Proclamation from Houston City Council Member Abbie Kamin and Mayor John Whitmire in recognition of Target Safety’s work in light of September as Suicide Prevention...
Read More Target Safety Proclamation
After inviting medical champions across the state to apply and fielding eight amazing candidates, CLI’s Reach Out and Read Texas is delighted to announce that Associate Professor of Pediatrics Kim K. Cheung, MD, PhD, FAAP, has been selected as State...
Read More Reach Out and Read Texas announces new leader
Food as Medicine in Pediatrics: A Necessary Responsibility Free webinar Thursday, October 3 12 to 1pm CST Renowned pediatrician Dr. Kofi Essel will address how food can be used as a tool for medicine. Entitled “Food as Medicine in Pediatrics: A Necessary Responsibility,” attendees...
Read More Department of Pediatrics upcoming events
The UTHealth universe is a busy, bustling place, and it’s easy to unintentionally miss important announcements. That’s why we make an intentional effort to uplift these recent recognitions, so the members of our Department can be celebrated by those with...
Read More Department of Pediatrics Team honors and updates
The Section on Pediatric Trainees of the American Academy of Pediatrics has selected Alexandria Laws, MD, PGY-2, and Andrea Pinto, MD, PGY-2, from the Department of Pediatrics as recipients of SOPT Community Access to Child Health Resident Grant. The Community Access to Child Health Resident...
Read More Pediatric residents earn AAP Grant
Each year, the Department of Pediatrics earmarks funding for full-time academic faculty who may be early in their careers — such as instructors and assistant professors — to initiate new research directly relevant to the development and/or health of infants,...
Read More Pilot grant awardees
In the three years since launching Epic, UTHealth Houston has not only met but exceeded its ambitious goal of becoming the best electronic health record in Texas, as evidenced by a remarkable three-peat performance recognized by Epic. Earning Level 10...
Read More Golden triumph: UTHealth Houston achieves three-peat of Epic’s highest honor
The Department of Pediatrics had two faculty members recently inducted into the McGovern Medical School Academy of Master Educators: Pediatric Hospital Medicine Professor Monaliza Evangelista, MD (left) Community & General Pediatrics Division Chief and Associate Professor Sandy McKay, MD Dr....
Read More Academy of Master Educators inductees
Newly published research highlights key factors such as adult supervision and environment can significantly influence a child’s likeliness to survive drowning. Assistant Professor of Pediatrics Kevin Rix, PhD, MPH, at UTHealth Houston School of Public Health in Dallas, collaborated with...
Read More New research explores key factors influencing fatal and non-fatal drownings in children
The Department of Pediatrics Team is frequently called upon to share insight and expertise with the community through various media platforms. Here are the media highlights from last month: Rebecca Beyda, MD, Associate Professor in Adolescent Medicine, was interviewed on...
Read More Department of Pediatrics in the media, September 2024
Viola Caretti, MD, PhD The Pediatric Epilepsy Research Foundation has awarded the 2024 PERF CNS Elterman Research Grant to Viola Caretti, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor in Pediatric Neurology. The PERF CNS Elterman Research Grant is awarded to early-stage investigators who are...
Read More Caretti earns PERF research grant
Sonia Estrada retired from UTHealth on August 30. Please see her farewell message below and join Dr. Aitken and all the Department leaders in thanking Sonia for her hard work and dedication to the Department of Pediatrics Human Resources. Silvia...
Read More Best wishes, Sonia!
The Department of Pediatrics proudly welcomes these new team members: And congratulations to Simi Abraham, MD, who was named Fellowship Program Director for the Child Abuse Pediatrics Program, effective July 1.
Read More Welcome to the Department of Pediatrics!
There have been an unusually large number of promotions this year! Congratulations to these faculty members for achieving excellence and taking your career — and our department — to the next level. These titles are effective September 1, 2024: Children’s...
Read More Department of Pediatrics Team updates
Intern Welcome Breakfast July 11 Pediatric Hospital Medicine attendings hosted a breakfast for new interns featuring made-to-order omelets and pancakes in the resident lounge. Thank You, Dr. Yetman and Welcome, Dr. McKay! July 27 Robert Yetman, MD, officially passed...
Read More Recent celebrations
The back-to-school season has prompted many in the Department of Pediatrics team to venture off campus and out of clinics into the communities of Greater Houston, meeting people where they are. To learn more about energizing volunteer opportunities like these,...
Read More Department of Pediatrics in the community
When Sienna Grace Wilson was born, a little fighter came into the world. Her parents, Sarah and David Wilson, were in awe of their new baby. They were also very emotional because of Sienna’s pre-birth diagnosis of Tetralogy of Fallot....
Read More Surgery for Tetralogy of Fallot unleashes the full potential of Sienna Wilson’s brain
13th International Neural Tube Defect Meeting August 11-14 Vancouver, Canada The McGovern Medical School Departments of Pediatrics and Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Services were well represented at this important gathering. From the Medical Genetics division, Hope Northrup, MD, and Kit...
Read More Inter-departmental conference collaboration
We celebrate the important research contributions published in respected journals and presented in conferences over the past month. Congratulations to: Yara Neaimah, MD, et al.: “Evaluation of the Efficacy and Safety of the Neonatal Sepsis Risk Calculator in a Tertiary Referral...
Read More Department publications and presentations, August 2024
It takes a wide variety of talent to keep this Department running smoothly. The Department of Pediatrics is fortunate to have hard-working support staff, some of whom have received recent recognitions for their efforts. Senior Project Manager Joshua Dorris...
Read More Department of Pediatrics honors
The Department of Pediatrics Team is frequently called upon to share insight and expertise with the community through various media platforms. Here are this season’s media highlights: Michelle Ruda, MD, quoted in Parents article about kneecap development in babies. Melissa...
Read More Department of Pediatrics in the media, August 2024
The Department of Pediatrics congratulates UTHealth Houston’s Center for Clinical and Translational Sciences (CCTS) in the achievement of this significant grant. Because of the UTHealth collaborative and multidisciplinary approach to care, the Department of Pediatrics will also benefit as many...
Read More Center for Clinical and Translational Sciences secures $55.5 million grant, extends leadership in translational research
The Department of Pediatrics celebrated the accomplishments of residents and fellows who completed their programs earlier this summer. The Neonatology Division honored their four graduating fellows with a special dinner at Xochi on Thursday, June 20, 2024. Jazmine Humphreys,...
Read More Congratulations, Graduates!
The Department of Pediatrics proudly welcomes these new team members: Special welcome to all this year’s Interns!
Read More Department of Pediatrics Team updates
Harris Health System’s Lyndon B. Johnson Hospital received its Level III Neonatal Care Designation from the Texas Department of State Health Services, meaning the hospital is expert in taking care of the tiniest patients. “Our physicians and nurses’ commitment to...
Read More Harris Health’s LBJ Hospital receives Level III designation for neonatal care
The UT Physicians Primary Care Team has earned their recertification as a Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH) for the fourth year running. This prestigious honor issued by the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) focuses on identifying physician practices that put...
Read More UT Physicians Primary Care Team earns Patient-Centered Medical Home Recognition
We celebrate the important research contributions published in respected journals and presented in conferences in recent months. Congratulations to: Autumn Atkinson, MD, et al.: “Rapid Response to Sirolimus in Patients with PIK3CA-Related Overgrowth Spectrum (PROS)“ Tina Findley, MD, et al.:...
Read More Department publications and presentations
The Department of Pediatrics Team is frequently called upon to share insight and expertise with the community through various media platforms. Here are this season’s media highlights: Dr. Amalia Guardiola spoke to Univision about healthy summer snacking for children. Dr....
Read More Department of Pediatrics in the media
Department of Pediatrics Infectious Diseases fellow Dr. Segura with Associate Professors Drs. Chang and Ellsworth were featured guests on the well-known ID Febrile Podcast episode entitled Education on fleek, or “On Flea-k.” where they recount the story of an 11-year-old...
Read More Drs. Chang, Ellsworth and Segura featured in Febrile podcast
Seven members of the McGovern Medical School faculty have been named to new medical leadership positions at Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center and Children’s Memorial Hermann Hospital. Among them are two from the Department of Pediatrics. This new structure was developed...
Read More Drs. Yetman and Smith named to leadership roles at Children’s Memorial Hermann
Dr. James M. Stark, MD, PhD, professor and associate director of the Pulmonary Fellowship Program, is retiring after a 41-year career. Dr. Stark has been a dedicated member of the UTHealth Houston team since 2011. His teammates celebrated him with...
Read More Dr. James Stark retires after 41-year career
Congratulations to the UT Physicians Employee of the Month for April 2024, Maria Castillo-Castro! A certified medical assistant in the Division of Medical Genetics, patients value her knowledge and compassionate bedside manner, and co-workers view her as a highly respected...
Read More UT Physicians Employee of the Month
The Steinway Piano Gallery hosted Doctors in Recital, on June 1 at Museo. Local physicians, including Marc Rhoads, MD, Director of the Pediatric Gastroenterology Division, and Michael Yafi, MD, Director of the Pediatric Endocrinology Division, traded stethoscopes for sheet music...
Read More Doctors in Recital
Provost’s TMC Collaborator Seed Fund Program Supports Innovative tDCS Study Written by: Amy Quinn | Updated: May 21, 2024 The collaborative project, titled “A Mechanistic Framework for Optimal Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation: Application to Pediatric Stroke Survivors with Arm Impairment,”...
Read More UTHealth Houston and Rice University collaborate on groundbreaking pediatric stroke research
Jacqueline Hecht, PhD receives the 2024 Distinguished Scientist Award in Craniofacial Biology Research from the International Association for Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial Research. Jacqueline Hecht, PhD, professor in the Department of Pediatrics and the UTHealth Houston School of Dentistry, has been named...
Read More Hecht receives 2024 IADR Distinguished Scientist Award
Dr. Ricardo Mosquera, Professor and Director of the Pulmonary, Allergy, Immunology and Sleep Division, is leading an innovative program, bringing the expertise of McGovern Medical School to patients across Latin America who suffer from a rare genetic condition called Primary...
Read More Dr. Ricardo Mosquera and Team bring expertise to Latin American communities
The culmination of over two decades of research from Hope Northrup, MD, professor, and Kit Sing Au, PhD, associate professor in the Department of Pediatrics, on the genetic factors associated with spina bifida has been published in Science. Kit Sing Au, PhD According to...
Read More Two decades of spina bifida research published in Science
Sandra McKay, MD The Kaiser Permanente Center for Gun Violence Research and Education has awarded Sandra McKay, MD, associate professor in the Department of Pediatrics, with a grant to further gun violence research and interventions. McKay received a $60,000 Category 1 grant...
Read More McKay receives Kaiser Permanente grant for gun violence research